Display card filling apparatus



Jan. '6, 194s. R. NADEAU 433,862

DISPLAY CARI) FIIILING APPARATUS.

Filed April 19, 1945 ,'Isheets-sheet 1 BY 055 MME/w ATTORNEY Jan.6,194s. R NADEAU 2,433,862

1DISPLAY CARD FILLING APPARATUS Filed April 19, 1943 '7 SheetS-Shet 2 Afro/eww Jan. 6, 1948. R. NADEAU DISPLAY CARD FILLING APPARATUS 7 sheets-sheet 5 Filed April 19, 1945 L'YVENTOR. Pass /V/lf/u/ BY l.

Jan. 6, 1948. R. NADEAU 2.433.862

DISPLAY CARD FILLING PP-ARATUS Filed April 19, 1943. 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 ATTORNEY Jan. 6,1948. R. NADr-:Au 2,433,862

DISPLAY CARD FILLING APPARATUS Filed April 19, 1945 A '7 Sheets-Shet 5 INVENTORA ,Pass /llfy Jan. 6,1948.

R. NADEAU 2,433,862

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DIS-PLAY CARD FILLING APPARATUS Filed April 19, 1945 7 Shee'gs-Sheet 7 11'9 w@ Q5 .7. v ,-25.9

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1a INVENTOR 77 P055 /V/IzJL-Az/ www ATTORNEY Patented Jan. 6, 1948 UNITED STATES' lPatrizier orifice Ross Nadeau, East Orange, N. J.

Application April 19, 1943, Serial No. 483,671

io'claims. (o1. 93-1) This invention relates to methods and apparatus for mounting articles of merchandise on display cards. More particularly my invention is directed to a novel and improved method and apparatus for mounting upon or iilling a display card with packages or cartons each of which is designedy to contain a number of individually Wrapped safety razor blades.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide a novel and highly improved method and apparatus of the class described for filling display cards with razor b lade packages which shall greatly speed up the production of such filled display cards and which shall accomplish such production with a minimum ofV damage to the cards and to the packages, thereby effecting a relatively large saving in the cost of merchandislng.

Another object of my invention is t-o provide a novel and highly improved method and means of the class described for filling display cards with razor blade packages which shall be characterized by the fact that When a display card is properly positioned with respect to the said apparatus, and the apparatus rendered effective, the said display card will be automatically filled with the predetermined desired number Vof packages irrespective of the skill of theoperator,

Still an-other object of my invention is to provide a novel and highly improved method and means of the class described for filling display cards with razor blade packages which shall represent a distinct advance in the art.

Other objects of my invention will in part be obvious and in part hereinafter pointed out.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of steps, elements and arrangements of parts which will be exemplied in the construction hereinafter described and of which the scope of application will be indicated in the claims.

In the accompanying drawing, in whichV is shown a possible embodiment of my invention:

Fig. l is a side elevational View, partly in section, of a display card lling apparatus constructed and arranged in accordance with my invention;

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional View taken substantiallyvalong the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially along the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a top planview of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1, but with certain parts thereof broken away to disclose the interior constructionr thereof 2 a Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional View taken substantially along the line 5-5 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is an elevational view of the apparatus" shown in Fig. 5 and as viewed along the line i 5 6 thereof with certain wall portions broken away to disclose the interior construction thereof;

` Figs. 7 and 8 are cross-sectional views taken substantially along the lines and 8-8 respectively of Fig. 5;

Fig. 9 is an enlarged detail view of a portion of the apparatus shown in Fig. 5 to more clearly illustrate a step in the operation thereof; v

Figs. 10 and 11 are views similar to Fig. 9, but

illustrating furthersteps in the operation of my'` apparatus; and,

Fig. 12 is an elevational View of a portion of a lled 'display card of the type with which my Fig. 12, for the purpose of illustrating the inven-v tion, a customary type of display card 2|] which it is desired to iill with razor blade packages 25.

. This display card 2B is provided with horizontal and vertical rows of tongue portions 2| integral with the body of the display card and each being formed by a pair of parallel through slits 2|a and a slitted pointed edge 2lb. The tongues 2| slidably receive thereon the packages 25, the said tongues 2| being received between the ap of the box and the bottom wall thereof, so that the top wall of the box with its advertising matter displayed thereon will be visible to the purchaser. Heretofore the task of mounting the packages 25 on the/tongues 2| of the display card was performed by hand, each package 25 being individuallyslidably positioned on a tongue 2|. This consumed a large amount of time and required a certain degree of-skill on the part of the operator in order to make any headway and in order to prevent damage to the cards or packages and to the fingers of the operators.

In accordance with my invention, I have provided the following apparatus for automatically eiecting the task of mounting razor blade packages on display cards,

kSupported on a horizontal flat bed portion 30,

in any suitable manner, is an upright back wall 3| which may be tilted slightly rearwardly, as shown in Figs. 1, 3 and 5. Disposed in planes at right angles to that of the wall 3| and substantially coextensive therewith are a plurality of walls 32, 33, 34, 35, 36 and 31, forming ve guideways A, B, C, D and E, each being adapted to receive therein a stack comprising the packages 25, which it is desired to mount upon the display cards 23. There is preferably provided one stack for each row of tongues 2|. As noted in Fig. 5, the lowermost package 25 of each stack of packages is adapted to normally rest upon a platform member 38 which is angularly disposed with respect to the bed 33 and suitably supported thereby. It is noted that I have disposed the platform 33 substantially at right angles to the back wall 3| of the stacking unit.

Slidably mounted on the platform 38 between a pair of guides 39 is a pusher member 43 (see Figs. 2 and 5) having -a plurality of forwardly projecting finger portions 40a, there being one finger portion 43a for each corresponding vstack of packages 25 and in alignment therewith. The said finger portions 46a yof the pusher member 40 are of a thickness not exceeding the depth of one package 25,so that when the pusher member 46 is slidably moved forwardly, in a manner soon to be described, the fingers 43a. thereof will push the lowermost package '25 out from under each stack, in a direction rearwardly -of the wall 3| and out through notched areas 4| (Fig. 5) in the said wall 3| to be mounted on the display card 23 which has been suitably positioned on the flat bed 33.

The following means are provided for positioning and feeding the display card 23 in proper synchronism so that an entire vertical row of tongues 2| will automatically and simultaneously receive thereon corresponding packages .25 from the stacks in the guideways A to E.

As noted in Figs. 2, vand '6, there is provided a shaft or drum 42 journa-led in the brackets 43 and 44 attached to the bed 3|. It is noted that the said shaft 42 is arranged so that a portion of the circumference thereof will project through a slotted opening 45 in the bed 3|) so that the said projecting portion of the shaft 42 will be substantially flush with the upper surface of the bed 33. Cooperating with the shaft 42 are a pair of end rollers 46 and 41 and intermediate spaced roller members 48. The rollers 46, 41 and 43 are mounted on a shaft 49 for rotation therewith, the said shaft 49 being, in turn, journaled in the bracket members 53. The said bracket members 53 are pivotally mounted, at one end thereof to the wall 3| by means of the pivots 5| and the members 52 (see Fig. 2).

The rollers 46, 41 and 48 are held in frictional engagement with the shaft or drum 42 by a pair of resilient spring members 55, one end of each of which is fixed to a bracket 50 leaving the other end 55a, which is bent around to lie adjacent the wall 3|, free and unattached. Tension on the rollers 46, 41 and 43 is obtained by providing set screws 56 passing through the end portions 55a. of the springs 55 and abutting the said wall 3|, as clearly shown in Fig. 5. The tension may be altered by merely turning the set screws 56.

In accordance with my invention the display card 2l) is designed to be received between the drum 42 and the rollers 46, 41 and 43 and gripped thereby and fed therethrough.

For properly synchronizing the movement of the display card 20 and insure its proper star-ting position for feeding through the rollers, the drum 42 is provided with a fiat area 53. In Figs. 4, 5, 9 and 10 the said flat area 53 of the drum 42 is shown in its top or normal starting position which permits the forcing in between the gripping rollers of the starting edge of the display card, so that, when the apparatus is rendered effective in the manner hereinafter to be described, the display card will be fed in proper timed relationship with respect to the operation of the pusher member 46 and other mechanisms forming a part of my invention.

vThe following means are provided for driving the drum 42 which in turn causes the advance movement of the display card 2Q when properly positioned on the bed 36 with the leading edge thereof received between the said drum 42 and friction rollers 46, 41 and 43.

As clearly shown in Figs. l, 2 and 3 there is suitably supported, on an extension of the bed 3U, an electric motor M connected to a source of supply (not'shown). Mounted on the motor shaft 6!) for rotation therewith is a sprocket wheel 6|. Mounted on a shaft 62, journaled in the brackets 63, 'is a sprocket wheel 64. A chain 65 interconnecting the sprocket wheels 6| and 64 causes rotation of the shaft 62 when lthe motor M is started. Mounted on the shaft 62 for rotation therewith is a second sprocket wheel 66. Journaled in the bracket 43 is a shaft 61 on which there is mounted a sprocket wheel 63 for rotation therewth. A chain 69 interconnecting the sprocket wheels 66 and 63 causes the simultaneous rotation of the shaft 61 with the shafts 66 and 62.

Mounted on reduced portions of the shaft 42, and for rotation therewith, is a gear 13. Also mounted on the shaft 61 for rotation therewith is a gear 1| in mesh with the gear 16.

It is therefore seen from the above described construction that when the motor M is energized by the closing of a suitable switch the drum 42 will be caused to rotate in a clockwise direction by means of the sprocket wheels and chains 66, 68 and 69 respectively, which in turn are driven by the sprocket wheels and chains 6|, 66 and 65 respectively. Since the rollers 46, 41 and 43 are in frictional contact with the drum 42, they will also be caused to rotate in a counterclockwise direction to feed the display card therebetween.

In accordance with my invention I have provided the following mechanism, properly synchronized with the feeding of the display card 26 between the drum 42 and rollers 46, 41 and 43, and with a pusher mechanism for feeding the packages 25 to be mounted on the card, (soon to be described) for automatically lifting the free ends 2lb of a row of tongues 2| to facilitate the mounting of the said packages 25 thereon.

Journaled between the brackets 41 is a shaft 15 having mounted thereon, for rotation therewith, a gear 16, in mesh with the gear 1| mounted on the shaft 61. Fixed to the shaft 15 for rotation therewith are a pair of cam wheels 11, spaced from each other a predetermined distance along the said shaft 15.

The bed 33 is provided with an opening 18 into which there is suitably mounted a block 19 having a portion thereof extending beneath the said bed 33. The block 19 is provided with a plurality of vertically disposed through openings 36 in each of which there is freely slidably mounted a pin 3| having a cammed top edge and a reduced diameter portion 31a adjacent its lower edge. The said portions 31a of the pins 3| are received in corresponding openings Vv82 in a bar 83,the said in Fig. 5. i Rotatably mounted on reduced portions 83a 'of the bar 83 are a pair of rollers 85, each of said/rollers 85 being so positioned that it 'will' frietionally rest upon a corresponding cam wheel "i v Y 'It-is thus seen from the above described construction thatwhen the motor M is energizedto cause rotation of the shaft 61, as hereinbeforeV described, the shaft will be causedto rotate simultaneously'with the shaft 61, due to the meshing gears 1I vand 16. The cams 11 being fixed to the shaft 15 will rotate therewith and thereby causethe rollers 85 to move the bar 83 upwardly andvdownwardly in accordance with the designed contourof the cams 11. The upward movement ofthe lbar 83 will cause the simultaneous elevation of all the pins 8|. Since the pins 8| are so arranged that there will be a corresponding pin 8| disposed directly underneath a tongue 2|,each ofi'the tongues 2| inlaiv'ertical row of tongues will be slightly raised to the positions shown in Figs. 5 and-8, whichpositionris the desired one for slidablyv inserting thereon the lowermost package 25 nfrom each stack of packages in the guideways A to E. v 'i VThe apparatus 'cfmy invention as shown in the drawings is so designed that when the display card29 is positioned with its leading edge overlying the at portion 58 of the Vdrum 42 the pins 8| AWill be in proper alignment to lift the rst vertical row of tongues 2|. It is also'noted that the diameter` of the drum 42 is such that upon one complete revolution thereof, so that the flat Aportion thereof 58 will be again positioned at the top as shown in Fig. 5, the display card will have advanced to a position where the second vertical row of tongues 2| will overlie the pins 8| and be raised thereby so that another batch of packages may be slid ably mounted thereon, and soon for the third and fourth vertical rows of tongues 2|.

It is within the contemplation of my invention to so arrange the apparatus, as above described, that Vwhen a display cardis positioned as indicated vand the motor started. the card will be automatically fed through until all the transverse f rowsof tongues are provided with 'razor blade packages, after which the motor will beg'autom'atically stopped.' To accomplishthis, it is necessary, to. cause the card to be held stationary'during the time that the package is being mounted thereon and .I have therefore provided a slip clutch device of any standard type, well known tothe art, on

the shaft 62 and acting betweenqthesprockets 68, 66 and chain 69.

shown in, for example, Fig. 9,7e'ach pin 8| will abut the wall of one of the openings in the dis-- play card 20 caused by the cutting out of the tongues 2| and thus hold the card against advancing movement between the drum 42 and rollers 46, 41 and 48 until the cam 11 is rotated to is held against movementthat the slip clutch will permit the continuous running of the motor M. r

The following means are provided, properly synchronized with above described means for holding of the display card 2| against movement by the pins 8|, for mounting avpackage 25 ona.

y Therefore, it is notedrthatV when the pins 8| are in their raised positionr as 6 corresponding tongue tervals.

'1 thereof "by the bolts89 are a pair of brackets 90.

Pivotally mounted on each bracket 9|), by means offa pivot shaft'9l,y is a, lever 92.

Ai second lever 93 is pivotally interconnected at' oneend thereof Vwith the lever 92 by means of the pivot/shaftv 94 located atthe opposite end of the lever 92 from that of the pivot 9|. The opposite end of the lever 93 from'that of the pivot 94 is pivotallyjconnected to a rigid angular bar member '95 having its free end freely received inar corresponding' opening 9B in the pusher member` 48. j

{It is thus seen that when the levers 92 are caused' to rotat'ein a counter-clockwise direction, the pusher member 40 will be caused to slidably move forwardly.A` When this occurs each finger/48a of ,the pusher member 40 will contactively engage fandpush the lowermost package 25'- from each ystack of packages 25 in the guideways Ato E, vout through the notched areas 4| vanclflslidably forced on to the already properly positioned -raised tongue 2|, the said tongue being received between the folded in portion ofthe ap fand the bottom wall'of the package.

In Fig. 9.,"11-have shown the rentionship or the i pusher memberdll, with respect to the stack of y packages 25 and the properly positioned display card Y20 andraised Vtongues 2| before the lsaid y pusher member 40 has been rendered effective. In Fig. 10, the pusher member 40 is shown in effective action, with the lowermost package 25' being-ushed out from under its stack and showing-v the vsame slidably being mounted on the raised tongue 2l. f

In AFig'. 11, I have shown the subsequent action whereV the package A254'has beenv mounted on the tongue and where the display card has been advanced to-the second Vertical row of tongues 2|,

with the-pins-l in raised position and with the pushermember 40 restored to its ineifective position,rready to vbe again brought forward to once more push out from under the stack of packages and .on -to 4the waiting tongues the lowermost package of veach stack,'and so on until the display ,card is, filled.v

The following means are employed for causing theautomatic oscillatory movement of the levers 92 vto cause effective operation of the pusher member'40 in synchronism with the operation yof the pins 8|, the drum 42 and rollers 46, 41 and Referring'particularly to Figs. 2 and 3 itis seen that there is mounted on the shaft B2 for rotation therewith, a disc member 96. A pitman arm 91 is pivotally connected at one end to the disc 9| by the pivot 98 and at the opposite end thereof Afront lguard member |08 maybe employed' to preventvthestacks of packages from becoming vJdisaligned as -the said packages approach thei 2|, at properly` timed in- 7 lowermost position to be acted upon by the pusher member 40.

To prevent undesiredportions of the display card 20 from being liftedywhen the pins 8| are raised to lift the tongues 2 I, I have Aprovided the following mechanism:

Fastened to the back wall 3|, at the rear surfacezthereof, is a housing block I, provided with a plurality of openings |02 extending from a bottom wall |-0|a of the block |0| to an enlarged chamber |03. Slidably mounted in each opening |02 is a relatively flat rigid pressure member |05 having an offset and enlarged bottom end portion |05a, the b-ottom'edge of which is adapted to normally rest upon the bed 30, or the display card 20 positioned thereon. The members |05 are Yso positioned that they -will contactivelyV engage the display ,card at those portions which are loca-ted between adjacent tongues 2| in the same vertical row of tongues. This will permit the .free movement of the packages 25 as they are pushed forward and von lto the raised tongues. At this point it is noted that the rollers 48 are aligned with the members |05 for the similar purpose of permitting vthe already mounted packages to freely pass `as the display card is advanced. The top portions of the members |02 which extend into the chambers |03 are provided with vabutment shoulders |06. Springs |01 in the chambers `|03 compressed between the top walls of the said chambers |03 and the abutment shoulders L06 resiliently urge the members |05 into frictional `contact with the display card 20. To prevent lateral displacement or distortion of the members |05, there is provided a horizontally disposed bar v|08 passing rthrough slotted openings |09 in the said members |05. The bar |08 is supported in a pair of depending portions |I0, integral with the block .|01 and held in position by cotter pins The slotted openings |09 in the members A|05 permit the self-adjusting movement ,of the members |05 when varying thickness of material of the display card 20 is encountered, or when display cards of different thicknesses are used. Spacer members |25 and |26, surrounding the bar |08 and interposed between the members |05 and portions ||0 serve to prevent lateral disalignment of the lsaid members |05.

As shown in Figs. 4 and '1, I have provided the following gauging means whereby the display card 20 may always be positioned so that the vertical rows of tongues 2| will be in proper aligned position to receive the packages 25 thereon.

Slidably mounted on the bed 30 adjacent one lateral end thereof is a bar ||5, which is maintained in proper constant angular relationship with respect toa lateral edge of the display ,card 20 lby means of a pair of pins H6, one end of each of which is ixedly attached to the bar ||5, in any suitable manner, 'such as, for example, by riveting. The free ends of the pins ||6 freely slidaby pass through an `auxiliary portion 30a of the base 30. .A set screw ||1 threadedly passing through the base portion'30a and having its inner end Illa rotatably attached to the gauge bar ||5, permits the adjustable positioning of the bar in accordance with the lateral edge of the display card.

To facilitate the proper positioning of the display card there is provided a carriage device cooperating with the gauge bar l5 and comprising a lbar |20, projecting slightly above the top surface of the bed 30 and mounted for sliding movement toward and away from the front edge |2| 8 ofthe vsaid `bed. 30, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4. The bar '|20 is supported in the following manner:

A pair of spaced plates |22 and |23 is provided with a pair of spaced apertures, the corresponding apertures in each bar being in alignment. Through each pair of such aligned apertures there is freely slidably arranged a pin |24 having one end thereof free and the opposite end xedly attached to the bar |20. By the foregoing description it is noted that the parallelism of the bar |20 with respect to the bed edge |2| will be maintained at all times during the movement of the said bar |20. Rigidly xed to the two pins |24 and at a predetermined distance between the bars |22 and |23, and for movement therewith is a transverse clamp member |21 and interposed between the said clamp member |21 and the bar |23 are springs |28 normally urging the movement of the bar |20 away from the bed edge |2|, such as for example to the dotted line position 20', as clearly shown in Fig. 4.

It is thus seen from the above described apparatus that to insure the effective positioning of the display card 20 so that it will properly be fed and filled with packages 25, it is merely necessary to rest the said display card 20 on the bed 30 with one edge 20X thereof abutting the gauge bar ||5 and with the rear edge 20y of the display card 20 up against the bar |20. The bar |20 is then manually slidably moved forwardly against the action of the springs |28 until the leading edge 20e of the display card is gripped between the flat portion 58 of the drum and the rollers 46, li1 and 48, after which the motor M may be energized and the bar |20 released so that it will be restored to its dotted line position |20 by the action of the springs |20.

In accordance with my invention I have provided the following means whereby when the display card 20 is properly positioned as above described, the motor M will be automatically energized to actuate the mechanism, to fill the display card with packages 25, after which the motor M will be automatically deenergized to stop the operation of the apparatus, to be automatically started again when a new display card is again effectively positioned, as above described.

Referring particularly to Figs. 3 and 4, it is noted that I provide a lever |30 pivotally mounted at one end thereof on the bracket |3| by the pivot |32, the said bracket |3| being in turn xedly mounted on the bed 30. The said lever |30 is provided with an offset portion extending to a point slightly beyond the front edge |2| of the bed 30. At a predetermined spaced position from the front end of the lever for cooperative action with the clamp |21 the said lever |30 is provided with a cammed portion |33 extending upwardly toward a position adjacent the said clamp |21. Rotatably mounted on the lever |30 at a predetermined position thereon is a roller |35 adapted to frictionally engage the rim of a disc |36. The said disc |36 is mounted on a shaft |31 which, in turn, is journaled in the bracket I3 A spring |38 having one end thereof fixed to the lever |30 and the other end thereof fixed to a lug |39 on the bed 30, normally maintains the roller |35 in frictional engagement with the rim of the disc |36. suitably supported on the bracket |3| is a switch device |40, which may be of any well known type for the purposes intended, such as for example that referred to as a micro-switch and having a contact making and breaking member |4|. A pair of lead wires |42 connect the micro-switch in the circuit with the motor M, which includes a suitable source of power (not shown). Mounted on the lever |30 for movement therewith is a contact actuating member |43 adapted to effectively open and close the switch |40.

The contact members |4| and |43 are so arranged with respect to the switch |40 that when the roller |35 rides against the rim of the disc |36, the switch |40 will be closed to energize the motor M, to operate the apparatus. However, the rim of the disc |36 is provided, at one point on the circumference thereof, with a notched or depressed portion I 44 into which the roller |35 is designed to fall when the said notch |44 reaches the position adjacent the roller |35. Itis in such position with the roller in the notch that the lever |30 will move to its dotted line position, to cause the members |43 and |4 to effectively open the switch and thus break the circuit to stop the motor M and the operation Yof the apparatus.

My apparatus is synchronized so that the disc Vthe disc will begin to rotate. The ratio between the pinion |6| and gear |60 is such that when the disc makes one complete revolution the display card will have been completely lled with packages 25 and will have completely passed between the drum 42 and rollers 46, 4l and 48 to be stacked. After one such revolution of the gear |60 and disc |36, the notched area will again receive the roller |35 therein to automatically open the switch to stop operation of the apparatus until another display card is properly positioned, or until the lever arm |46 is manually operated to close the switch |40.

In accordance with my invention, I have found that I obtain satisfactory results when the slits 2 la and 2 lb which form thetongues 2| in the display cards, are blanked out from the back toward Vthe face of the card, so that I obtain thereby a rounded edge which is presented to the leading |36 is normally positioned with the notch |44 in its lowermost position with the roller |35 received therein. In other words the apparatus normally is not in operation, .Howeven it is now seen from the above described construction that when the lever |30 `is rotated on its pivot |32 ina counterclockwise direction the apparatus will be automatically started in its operation. Accordingly therefore, I have provided the-,clamp |21, which travels withthe pins, |24, with a cam portion |45 which vis adapted to engage and-pvotally move a lever arm |46, pivoted to the bed 30 by means of the pivot 4'| and suitably supported in a slotted opening |50 lbetween the bed` 30 and one of the legs orcleats |5| (see Fig. 1) Supporting the bed 30. At apredetermined area of the lever arm |46, va cam portion |48 is provided so that upon pivotal movement of the arm |46 it will engage the cammed part |33 of the lever |30 and cause the counter-clockwise rotational movement of the said lever |30 to start the operation of the appa- Tabus.

Itis thereforeseen from the above description that when the display card is placed in position on the bed 30andthe bar |20 slidably moved from. its dotted line position |20 inwardly, at the point Vwhen the leading edge `26e of the display card 20 is engaged between the flat area 58 ofthe drum 42 and the rollers 46, 4l and 48, the cammed portion |48 ofthe arm |46 will strike the portion |33 of the lever |3|lto automatically start the operation of the apparatus. If desired, the lever arm |46 may be extended to project beyond one side of Vthe lbed 30, as clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 4, so

that the operation of the apparatus may be effectively started by manually moving the handle or arm |46 from its dotted line position |46 to its full line position as illustrated in Fig. 2.

The apparatus of my invention is also designed to automaticallyfstop the operation of the apparatus when @display card has been completely iilled. To thisend, I providea gear |60 (see Fig. 3) whichis fxedto-the--shaft `|31 for rotation therewith and which is, at the same time, in mesh with a pinion |6| xed to the shaft or drum 42 for rotation therewith.

It is now seen that when the drum 42 is caused to rotate in a clockwise direction due to the meshing gears '1| and l0, as hereinbefore explained,

the pinion |6| traveling in the same direction as the drum 42 will cause counterclockwise rotattion of the gear |60 and disc |36. In other words, as soon as the apparatus is automatically started,

edge of the bottom wall 25a of the package 25 when the said package is slidably urged on the tongue 2 I. Y

In accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes, I have herein described the principle and operation of my invention, together with construction which I now consider to represent the best embodiment thereof, but I desire to have it understood that the construction shown is only illustrative an-d that the invention can be carried out by other means. Also, while it is designed to use the various features and elements in the cornbination and relations described, some of these may be altered and others omitted without interfering with the more general results outlined, and the invention extends to such. use.

Having described my invention, `what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. For use with a display card having a plurality of spaced tongueY portions arranged one behind the other with their longitudinal axes in the same straight line and adapted to receive and hold packages or similar articles thereon, a display card filling apparatus of the class described comprising means for supporting a display card, means for supporting a stack 0f said packages to be mounted on said displaycard, means for advancing said display cardso that it will be temporarily halted at each successive tonguer portion and means for causing one of the said packagesfrom said stack to be mounted on a tongue portion, the effective operation of said last named 'means' being synchronized with those periods Vwhen the display card is at rest.

2. For use with a display card having a plural- Aity Vof rows of tongue portions arranged in longitudinal and-transverse alignment and adapted to causing one package from each of said stacks to be mounted on a corresponding tongue portion of one of said rows of tongue portions, the effective operation of said last named means being synchronized with those periods when the display card has been temporarily halted.

3. For use with a display card having a plurality of rows of tongue portions arranged one behind the other with theirlongitudinal axes in the same straight line and adapted toreceive and hold packages or similar articles thereon, a display card filling apparatusof the class described comprising means for supporting a display card, means for supporting a plurality of stacks of said packages, there being preferably one of said stacks for each row of tongue portions, means for normally continuously advancing said display card, means for causing one package from each of said stacks to be mounted on a corresponding tongue portion of one of said rows of tongue portions and means for temporarily holding said display card against movement each time a successive row of tongue portions is properly positioned for receiving the packages', the effective operation of said last named means being synchronized with the effective operation of the said means for causing the packages to be mounted on the tongue portions.

4. For use with a display card having a plurality of rows of tongue portions arranged one behind the other with their longitudinal axes in the same straight line and adapted to receive and hold packages or similar articles thereon, a display card lling apparatus of the class described comprising means for supporting a display card, means for supporting a plurality of stacks of said packages, there being preferably one of said stacks for each row of tongue portions, means for normally continuously advancing said display card, means for causing one package from each of said stacks to be mounted on a corresponding tongue portion of one of said rows of tongue portions, and means for temporarily holding said display card` against movement each time a successive row of tongue portions is properly positioned for receiving the packages, the effective operation of said last named means being synchronized with the effective operation ofthe said means for causing the packages to be mounted on the tongue portions, the said means for temporarily holding the display cardY againstY movement including means for lifting said tongue portions away from the plane of said display card to facilitate` the mounting of said packages thereon.

5. A display card filling apparatus according to claim 4 in which the means for normally continuously advancing said display card comprises a rotatably mounteddrum, a roller frictionally cooperating therewith, the said display card being adapted to pass between said drum and roller, and means for rotating said drum.

6. A display card filling apparatus according to claim 4 in which the means for normally continuously advancing said display card comprises a rotatably mounted drum, a rollerffrictionally cooperating therewith, the said display card being adapted to pass between the said drum andv roller and means for rotating said drum, said drum having a portion of its surface flattenedto facilitate the initial positioning of the leading edge portion of the said display card between the-drum and roller by resting the said leading edge portion of the display card directly on said flattened surface, the diameter of said drum being such file of this patent: Y

vthat when the said iiattened` surface has made Yone complete revolution the display card will have 'a rotatably mounted drum, a roller frictionally cooperating therewith, the said display card being adapted to pass between said drum and roller, and means for rotating said drum, the diameter of said drum being such that one revolution thereof will cause the said display card to advance between said rows of tongue portions.

l8. A display card lling apparatus according to claim 1 in which means, comprising a gauge member, are provided for positioning said display card on said display card supporting means for effective operation with respect tosaid stock of packages and said tongue portions.

9. A display-card lling apparatus according to claim 4 in which the means for normally continuously advancing said display card comprises aV rotatably mounted drum, a plurality of rollers frictionally cooperating therewith, the said display card being adapted to pass between the drum and rollers, the said rollers being spaced from each other a suicient distance to permit the free passage therebetween of the. packages mounted on the tongue portions.

10. A method for mounting packages on a display card having cut out tongues arranged one behind the other with their longitudinal axes in a straight line, comprising, first causingsaid display card to be laterally moved a predetermined distance of its length to a position where the rst tongue is ready to receive a package, then holding said displayY card against movement, lifting said nrst tongue with respect to the plane of said display card while the latter is being held against movement, then mounting a package on said lifted first tongue, then again causing said display card to be moved forwardly from its last position for another predetermined distance of its length to a position where the second tongue is ready to receive a package, then holding said display card against movement, lifting said second tongue with respect to the plane of the display card while the latteris being held against movement, then mounting a second package on said second tongue while' said display card ris being held against movement.

Ross NADEAU.

REFERENCES CITED The following references'are of record inthe UNITED STATES PATENTS 

